Farm & Food

It was back to wet weather this past week, reports Ormstown weatherman Peter Finlayson. There was 40 mm of precipitation, mostly toward the end of the week, after a two week stretch with very little rain. The heat units were 302 for the first 12 days of September, with the monthly normal being 559 HU, so the month looks like it will be warmer than average. The total to date (since May 9th) is 2,922 HU, which is 107 HU above the ten-year average.Peter also noted that despite our daily sense that the summer was average or even cool, the season was in fact warmer than average. There have been 16 days over 30°C, with two of those in September. Although there were only three days with 30 HU or higher (which is about maximum for one day), there were fewer cooler nights, especially in August and early September, so this helped to raise the overall accumulation of heat. Peter also noted that he took a tube paddle on the Chateauguay River, an annual event he delays for as long as possible to enjoy the activity with the warmest possible water. He reports the river water to indeed be warm but also pleasantly fresh even though the water level wasn't high.